Filmmakers demand certification to Kathakali

After the Udta Punjab controversy, the industry has now come in support of a Malayalam movie which has been denied certification for its “depiction of nudity and abusive language”.

On Monday, filmmakers and technicians came together in support of the makers of Kathakali, in a protest near the regional office of the Central Board of Film Certification here.

Directed by young filmmaker Saijo Kannanaikkal, the film ran into trouble after regional censor officer, A Prathibha, raised objection to a scene in the film’s final segment in which the protagonist – a Kathakali artist played by Binoy Nambala – removes his Kathakali attire and walks nude, away from the camera. Two other scenes were also termed “objectionable” for nudity and language. Saijo has already moved the high court against the CBFC decision. On Monday, members of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) staged a protest against the decision.

“A panel of officials had already watched the film and even recommended it for a ‘U’ certificate subject to some cuts. But the censor officer who did not watch it with the other members, later raised these objections. We were told that no certification was possible and we’ll have to submit it to a review committee. We were facing a financial crunch to go ahead; that’s when the film industry came forward to support us,” Saijo told DH on Monday.